Event stages: choosing size, height and access

Draw what will happen on the stage

Record who will be on stage at each moment, what they bring and where they enter. Place furniture, instruments, DJ booth, lectern, floor monitors and presenter screens. Also leave technician passage. Empty space in a photo may be exactly what you need to change a battery or bring in an award.

Separate performance space, technical positions and routes. Width times depth gives the overall rectangle, but free space changes once equipment is placed. Five musicians with drums and keyboards occupy the stage differently from five seated panelists.

Request the rider or a dimension list. If none exists yet, make a first drawing with numbered positions and review it with the event lead. Tip: start with what is hard to move, such as a piano or backdrop screen, and arrange the rest around it.

Starting dimensions for testing your layout

These examples are GLMedia layout proposals for starting a drawing. They do not state how many people a stage supports or replace system design. Height in the table is measured from local ground to the finished stage floor; review it with sightlines, ceiling and access. Feet conversions are approximate; the metric values identify the original example dimensions.

Check that every table, instrument and route fits the rectangle before requesting a quote. If something is tight, adjust layout or size. Raising the platform alone may leave the same sightline problem while making ramps more difficult.

Tell us how the platform will be used

You can start with a sketch or a few dimensions. Mark what is confirmed and what is still pending; those details allow a specific request to be reviewed with the provider and venue.

Translate the drawing into the modules you will use

Request dimensions for decks, legs, connectors and system accessories. For example, Wenger lists StageTek decks in 4 × 8, 4 × 6 and 3 × 8 ft, among other options depending on version. Use those as manufacturer references and confirm which your provider offers. StageTek dimensions.

For StageDex, Prolyte identifies a standard 2000 × 1000 mm deck and distinguishes surfaces and indoor/outdoor variants. Two similar-looking platforms may have different components and uses: find the model, not just the photo. StageDex manual.

A useful plan calculation: an 8 × 6 m rectangle (approximately 26.2 × 19.7 ft), drawn with nominal 2 × 1 m pieces, totals 24 decks of approximately 21.5 sq ft (2 m²) each. That gives the area. Orientation, connections, supports and accessories still need resolving with compatible system components.

State whether there will be a piano, heavy equipment, wheels or repeated movement. The provider needs to distinguish distributed surface weight, concentrated weight at one position and program actions. One model's published capacity does not carry over to another platform.

Review height from the audience and ceiling

Look from the front row: do monitors or the booth hide what must be seen? Then go to the back and sides to check what heads and tables obscure. Cameras also need their own view; separating their position from the audience may help.

Every increment of stage height reduces clear height. Draw the ceiling, room fixtures, screen, lights and backdrop. In a hotel, the platform may fit perfectly while leaving the screen or backlight too low.

Choose height from options allowed by the system, with its legs and accessories. Do not make up the difference with improvised spacers. If sightlines still do not work, try another stage location, audience arrangement or live camera picture on a screen, known as IMAG.

Include stairs, ramps and waiting space

Mark where people arrive and wait their turn. Stairs may occupy a side that seemed clear; a ramp may need more length than the stage depth. Include landings, turns, edge protection and the complete route to the access point.

An accessible route requires review of slope, width, landings, handrails and surface. The U.S. Access Board covers these in its accessible-routes chapter. Review how they apply to the site with the venue and its responsible lead; calculating slope alone leaves several elements unresolved. Accessible routes.

If the program needs it, separate participant entry from equipment transport and service passage. Add skirting after resolving these uses: it should finish the front without covering access or hiding a level change that needs identification.

Tip: test with furniture already in place. Check that a wheelchair or bulky equipment can complete the route and turn where required. It is much easier to correct this before doors open.

Coordinate staging with audio, lighting and video

Before arranging instruments and furniture, place monitors, microphone stands, cable ramps and power. Reserve camera and confidence-monitor positions without blocking passage. If there is an LED screen, agree on whether the speaker stands in front, beside it or outside the content area.

An LED wall and lighting structure need their own support. Agree with each lead on which loads go on the stage, which go on the ground and which are suspended. Equipment being close together does not make one structure suitable to support another.

Outdoors, tell the provider about the ground, drainage, uneven areas and the surface participants will walk on. Agree on operating schedule and conditions. Supports and stability must be resolved for that site; a ballast quantity from another show is not enough to design them.

To develop the complete setup, the staging, heights and show production guide (Spanish) covers layout, patch, audio and lighting.

Before doors open: test the assembled stage

Agree on who hands over the platform and who reviews the setup. Keep the plan at hand and test with program equipment: an empty rectangle may look tidy while leaving routes or sightlines unresolved.

1. Finalize the plan

   Confirm width, depth, height, equipment, access, ground and ceiling. Mark changes still to be resolved.

2. Check components

   Check model, variant, condition, legs and accessories with the installer. Use the manual and plan for that system.

3. Receive the platform

   Review level, connections, surface, edges and access before placing show equipment.

4. Place actual equipment

   Position furniture, instruments, monitors and cables according to the drawing. Keep the agreed passage clear.

5. Rehearse actions

   Test entrances, exits and act changeovers with participants. Also check from the audience and cameras.

6. Agree on operation and removal

   Define who reviews changes during the show and when dismantling can begin, after the audience and equipment have left.

Comparing three offers to cover the same orchestra pit

This helps prepare the comparison without treating a setup as tested.

Two similar quotes: check what each includes

If two offers cover a similar area at very different prices, compare them using the same plan. Include usable area, heights, ground, entrances and routes for musicians and equipment. Describe what will happen on the platform: a talk, orchestra or moving instrument requires the provider to assess different uses. For an orchestra pit, add edges, obstacles and working access.

Ask each offer to detail decks, supports, connections, stairs, protection, carts, transport and installation. Agree on who reviews building compatibility. Also measure storage and doorways: saving on the platform may not help if there is nowhere to store it.

A demonstration helps compare footstep noise, finish and handling. Structural capacity is checked through documentation and configuration. Finalize the choice with the plan, each provider's scope and a pre-use review so you know what you are paying for.

For the models in the case, review the STRATA manual for intended use, stability and installation plan; and the ME-1000AS manualfor supports, assembly and maintenance.

1. Use the same plan

   Give each provider the same uses, routes and equipment that will go on the platform.

2. Compare scope

   Put components, accessories, setup, transport and storage in one table.

3. Review model and configuration

   Check the proposal with the provider and venue lead; identify the variant being offered.

4. Agree on handover

   Make clear who installs and who approves the setup before use.

Rehearse staging, footsteps and microphones together

If the program includes dancing, a moving choir or entrances near open microphones, allow time to test those movements on the installed stage. Mark where each person sings or speaks, where they enter and where microphones and monitors sit. A test with everyone still may miss the moment you later hear in the recording.

The user reported that PCC microphones on foam still picked up substantial dancer noise; monitors also masked voices in the recording.

Run separate tests: voices without movement, movement without singing, then the complete scene with accompaniment and monitors. Ask audio to document what changes so adjustments can be decided together. The Shure MX200 manual distinguishes capsules and describes boom use with the intended adapter for moving groups. Microphone choice also depends on whether it serves house, recording or both. If support or surface changes are needed, take the observation to the stage provider; an audio rehearsal does not define a system modification.

1. Mark movement and equipment on the plan

   Link performer positions, entrances, footsteps, microphones and monitors. Document when each microphone is open.

2. Separate the tests

   Record stationary voices, movement without singing and the complete scene. Keep settings documented for comparison.

3. Review each microphone's purpose

   Confirm model, capsule and whether it serves house, recording or both. Agree on position adjustments with audio and the scene director.

4. Put agreed changes in writing

   Update the plan and rider. The provider must review any stage-system or surface change for that setup.

Also draw stage storage and the cart's route

Before choosing modules, draw where they will go after the event. Add carts, legs, rails and skirting to the storage plan. Also mark the route to the room: a doorway may pass one loose deck but block the loaded cart.

For your event, ask about storage and transport when requesting the proposal.

The StageTek manual states that the Universal Deck & Rail Cart passes through a 32-inch (813 mm) doorway. By contrast, the Horizontal Storage Cart specifications require a double door with at least 50 inches (1270 mm) clear width. These are different carts: check which comes to your event and measure actual clear passage.

Request loaded-cart dimensions and review turns, elevator and parking space with the venue. Allow time to store it without blocking access. For StageTek, Wenger warns that decks standing on edge without their cart can tip; do not improvise storage by leaning them against a wall.

If tape lifts paint, review the finish before covering the stage

If tape removes paint when flooring is taken up, save a photo and record the base, finish, tape and flooring used. That information helps the provider investigate; a photo alone cannot establish finish failure or material incompatibility.

For temporary Dance Floor and Cabriole installation, the Rosco manual calls for leaving sheets unrolled overnight and using vinyl floor tape at seams and the perimeter. Review the model you will use: that method does not establish its behavior on a freshly painted stage.

Before covering the whole surface, agree on a small-area test with the venue using the same materials. If it lifts the finish again, stop that test and ask about compatible preparation. Adding stronger tape or painting over it without identifying the base may repeat the problem.

The Rosco maintenance guide instructs removing tape parallel to the surface. Also review the base after removal and document results with the provider. The next setup can then start from materials and a finish that were actually checked.

When requesting a rolling riser, describe the complete setup

For a drum riser request, state whether it stays fixed or rolls in preassembled during a band changeover. Ask the proposal to identify platform, legs, wheels, connections and finished height. Also attach the kit layout and intended entry route.

Wenger's Roll-A-Deck 280B550 includes four legs and a connection bracket; rectangular StageTek decks are ordered separately. The specifications state that its casters lock both wheel rotation and swivel rotation. Those are features of that kit, not of every platform on wheels.

Instructions 280A553-03 refer to the system manual and warn that incorrectly fitted legs can leave the deck unstable. Ask the provider to confirm assembly and compatible components. A photo of a loose accessory does not identify the system to be delivered.

When receiving the proposal, check what is included, who assembles it and how it is handed over after checking. Add external dimensions, final height and route conditions to the shared production document. If modules differ, ask the provider to describe their connection within the system before finalizing configuration.

When requesting a console deck, describe the complete support

In the rental request, tell the provider that the deck will serve as a technical table. Attach dimensions of consoles, cases, screens and accessories placed on it. Mark each assembly's support points and the space underneath for seating and cables.

Ask the offer to identify deck, legs, accessories and finished height. For StageTek, the USA/2026-01 specifications distinguish telescoping legs with threaded leveling feet. That description belongs to that system; review the actual components in the proposal.

Draw the ground where the support will stand and flag slopes or steps. The provider needs to review that location with the complete setup and expected loads. An adjustable leg alone does not define where any platform may be installed.

Review transport separately from operating position: overall width, entry route, cable space and operator access. Agree on who assembles and hands over the checked support. Include that line in production before rehearsal so FOH receives the requested configuration.

When requesting a riser, also clarify its use

For a choir, band or camera team, a request saying “riser” may mean different things. Document who will use it and what will go on it before comparing offers.

As a specific example, Wenger's May 2026 manual 024H636-06 defines Tourmaster as a raised step for vocal groups, for indoor use. That description alone does not establish another instrumental application.

If considering adding new modules to an older setup, send identification for both and request confirmation of the combination. A repeated brand name is not enough to approve it. Also separate checked units from those needing maintenance; the current manual calls for periodic fastener checks.

Check locking mechanisms before counting platforms

If handles or connectors are broken, mark which platforms await review before confirming available area. Photos from above may hide that condition. Identify each unit and component set so workshop and production refer to the same equipment.

Versalite manual 133C995-03 calls for fastener inspection every six months and replacement of worn, bent or broken parts. It distinguishes corner assemblies, inter-unit connectors and supports. Confirm the replacement for your platform.

Separate available units in the inventory from those awaiting repair and subsequent review. Coordinate work with the provider and update the list before loading. Ordering a part does not mean the platform is ready for event setup.

For tap dance, request flooring for its use and test the sound

If the performance includes tap or other percussive dance, ask the company which surface it needs and whether it supplies its own flooring. Give that answer to the staging provider and audio team. Flooring is part of the performance and its selection belongs in the request.

Harlequin Duo Pro is one vinyl example the manufacturer lists for tap. It specifies temporary use on a flat, smooth surface. The generic name “marley” does not identify the model or guarantee the sound the company wants.

Request a sample test with the performance footwear and agree on how it will be heard in the room. Retain the company's approval and product identification. Surface finish and staging system must be identified separately in the proposal.

Stage worksheet for comparing the request's scope

Complete a worksheet with event, venue, date and program version. For each act, list participants, furniture and expected equipment. Attach the available plan and mark positions still pending.

On another line, record when each item enters, who moves it between acts and when it can be removed. Ask artists to review their part before sharing the worksheet with providers.

Separate supply, transport, setup, event changeovers and removal. Name a responsible person for each task. When comparing offers, ask what is included and what depends on another team.

Agree on supply, setup and show changeovers

You can inquire as a direct client, producer, agency, venue or AV company. Tell us which system you already have and what you need to book; components, scope and availability are confirmed in the proposal.

GLMedia is responsible for the contracted technical scope. The client or production team confirms the program, participants, rider and who gives cues. The venue confirms access, ground, ceiling, schedules and applicable requirements. The manufacturer or provider confirms compatible components, configuration and system documentation; we agree on who performs reviews and accepts the setup. We coordinate audio, lighting, LED or cameras when included in the proposal, with defined responsibilities.

Staging Dimensions: draw modules at their actual dimensions

To request Staging Dimensions, start with module size. Its Standard Decks catalog offers rectangles or squares from 1 × 1 to 4 × 8 ft; curved shapes and larger sizes are presented as custom products.

A 4 × 8 ft module is exactly 1.2192 × 2.4384 m. You may round the drawing label, but keep exact dimensions in the file. Replacing a 2 × 1 m module with a 4 × 8 ft one requires recalculating the layout: width, depth and access change.

The Standard Stage Decks specifications, p. 1 describe Dual Lock deck connections and an approximate weight of 129–139 lb per 4 × 8 ft module, depending on surface. Confirm finish and weight for transport; that figure describes the module, not its allowable load.

Calculated example for reviewing a proposal: six 4 × 8 ft modules in three columns and two rows, with the 8 ft side across the front, form 24 × 8 ft: exactly 7.3152 × 2.4384 m. This is example geometry; supports and accessories are defined separately.

We propose marking orientation, each module number, finished floor elevation and access on the production plan (Spanish). Request the provider's component layout before finalizing stage dimensions. Also compare space for show organization (Spanish).

The assembly manual, p. 4 instructs maintaining Dual Lock orientation during assembly. It also calls for securing leg-retaining screws and checking that the adjustment button re-engages.

Staging Dimensions: choose legs together with bracing

The Adjustable Height Legs page requires four adjustable legs per deck. Do not reduce that count to share corners between modules. The same page lists 16–24, 24–36 and 36–56 inches.

The adjustable-legs PDF, p. 1 also includes 48–78 inches. It specifies leg clamps above 24 inches and clamps plus diagonal braces above 36. The table converts those ranges; it does not determine which height suits your event.

Check the boundary: the Specification, p. 8, §2.2 B calls for diagonal braces for fixed legs at 36 inches and above, and lists them for several adjustable ranges. Do not infer that a 36-inch setup can omit bracing from another sheet's wording.

Ask the manufacturer or provider for the exact assembly's bracing plan, stating leg model, finished height, ground, use and loads. We propose checking delivery against that component list: legs, locks, clamps and diagonals. Resolve differences between documents before using the stage.

Wunderstructures is another support system, designed to bridge modules. The standard 4 × 8 ft version's page lists 24–36, 36–56, 48–78 and 78–108 inches. Request its support layout; do not apply a loose-leg count to the bridging system.

The Diagonal Leg Braces page specifies diagonals for 78–108-inch Wunderstructures or when combined with fixed or adjustable legs. Check which systems your plan combines and which components that configuration requires.

The manual, p. 6 recommends leg clamps from 24 inches inclusive and advises installing them as each deck is placed, to avoid entering beneath the stage at the end.

On p. 7 of the manual, diagonal braces are recommended from 36 inches inclusive with fixed or adjustable legs. Above 36, it describes double diagonals in an X. It states that a drawing with their exact locations is provided. Confirm that this instruction applies to the equipment offered.

Staging Dimensions and LED screens: review each support point

The Specification, p. 5, §1.6 gives 200 lb/ft² as a uniform load for the standard 4 × 8 ft deck. It separately describes a 1,500 lb point-load test applied through a one-inch-diameter pin. These are different conditions; do not use the uniform figure to approve an LED support leg.

We propose sending the provider a plan locating support points and screen, structure and ballast weights. Request reactions at each support from the LED structure lead and a review of the stage–support–ground assembly. Dividing total weight by the entire stage area hides load concentrations.

Specification §1.5 calls for dimensioned drawings, instructions and engineering reports; §1.6 limits deck/accessory compatibility to Staging Dimensions products. Request the identified assembly and its documentation. A physically fitting part from another brand does not prove compatibility.

Use the blank Staging Dimensions worksheet to record information and pending items. It is not a structural calculation or evidence of a completed test. If LED has independent support, describe that in the request for screens and video (Spanish) and in the scope for stages and platforms.

Staging Dimensions: request stairs by height and attachment

Before choosing by step count, record finished deck height and side space. The Adjustable Stair Units specifications offer these ranges; height falling within one still leaves handrails and deck attachment to be defined.

The manual, pp. 14–16, shows assembly, leveling and stair plugs for the unit without handrails. The single-step unit has another system, explained on p. 17. Request the component list for the stairs delivered.

The manufacturer states that stairs must be used with their clamp tightened. If it is missing or the connection does not match, consult the provider before opening access. For the request, GLMedia can review the scope for stages and platforms.

Staging Dimensions: distinguish guardrails, handrails and chair stops

This is a reminder to also draw passage in front of chairs.

The Aluminum Guardrail specifications describe a rail with midrail and integrated chair stop. The chairstop is a low accessory: its presence does not establish that protection for people at the edge is resolved. Ask the provider for the configuration required for that use.

The manual, p. 18, warns that guardrail and stair clamps are not interchangeable. Identify each accessory and its attachment in the request; a similar-looking part may belong to another assembly.

Staging Dimensions: calculate the ramp with its landings

Review the equipment entry route while choosing stage access.

The ADA Ramps specifications combine decks, starter sections and transitions. The website offers straight, L-shaped and U-shaped layouts. Request an assembly plan with supports and connections; catalog photos do not replace that plan.

To estimate space at 1:12, multiply the rise by 12: that is the horizontal sloped run, excluding landings. The U.S. Access Board guide, §405 specifies landings at ends and turns, among other requirements. Confirm application with the venue.

Calculation examples at 1:12, before adding landings, turns and arrival space:

Tip: place the route on the Vectorworks plan (Spanish), with doors and furniture. If it does not fit, review design with the venue and provider before reserving equipment. Worksheet to prepare that review.

Staging Dimensions: draw chairs and passage on each level

That difference in use belongs in the request.

The Choral Risers specifications present stepped assemblies in different layouts. To place decks, the manual, p. 19, refers to the drawing delivered with the assembly. A catalog photo does not define a setup for our chairs.

We propose drawing actual furniture before booking: include occupied chairs, music stands and entrance/exit paths. Document who needs different access. Review that plan with the provider; total area alone does not determine how many people can use each level.

Coordinate rehearsal with event sound and prepare the scope for stages and platforms.

Wunderstructures: locate supports before counting units

That assembly cannot be transferred to another system.

The Wunderstructures specifications advertise a system that can support up to five decks per unit. This describes its shared-support arrangement; it does not mean you can order units by dividing deck count by five.

The manual, pp. 10–13, distinguishes locator plates with one, two or four nodes and shows their positions in a 60 × 40 ft example. Confirm the plan for your decks, heights and supports. Also review arm and pin locking described on p. 11.

Tip: number supports and document the plate at each position on the Vectorworks plan (Spanish). We propose checking those references against received components before installing decks; the manual's diagram explains the system, rather than serving as a template for every layout.

Closure panels: review infill and access to fasteners

The closure panels from Staging Dimensions are rigid infill for the front, sides or rear. The specifications show button, receiver, leg-clip and Velcro attachments. Request the panel reference and kit for your assembly.

The manual, p. 21, shows clips and Velcro in another presentation, including a photo labeled Black Luan. The specifications describe PVC or plexiglass and offer other options. Confirm delivered material and attachment; an old photo does not identify the current kit.

We propose marking which panel is removed to inspect connections or supports and checking that access before closing the front. Infill does not establish replacement of rails, chair stops or bracing: retain the components specified for the assembly.

If you prefer skirting, coordinate the finish with draping and pipe & drape (Spanish). You can prepare all three reviews on this risers, supports and infill worksheet.

Rolling Legs: also request sleeves and the leg layout

The Rolling Legs specifications from Staging Dimensions show single and double legs with four-inch Total Lock casters. Sleeves, or adapter tubes, are required for use. List plate, caster and sleeve separately; the manufacturer offers replacement parts separately.

The manual, pp. 8–9, places single legs at outer corners and double legs at connections between two decks. It warns that casters and plates must stay beneath decks without protruding. Request the layout for your plan.

The sheet and manual show different presentations of the components. Confirm the references and instructions for the received kit with the provider. We propose checking position and orientation on the plan before assembly; do not substitute one leg for another simply because it fits the socket.

To prepare the proposal, gather these details with the service for stages and platforms.

Caster Pots: identify the wheel and Wunderstructure in the request

The Caster Pots are accessories that make a standard Wunderstructure mobile. The sheet offers single or double units and different casters. Its Weight table gives accessory weight, not the complete assembly's capacity.

The manufacturer's page limits compatibility to Staging Dimensions products. Within that system, request the Wunderstructure, Caster Pot and intended caster references. The commercial sheet does not contain an installation sequence: request the assembly plan and instructions.

Before choosing a caster by diameter, share the route surface, joints, level changes and expected loads with the provider. We propose verifying the delivered option on the venue floor according to the agreed procedure; a turf option does not establish suitability for every route.

Document supports on the Vectorworks plan (Spanish) and connect them to the guide on Wunderstructures and plates.

Stage changeover: agree on the maneuver and operating position

The Rolling Riser Legs manual, p. 9, shows casters locked during assembly and released to position the riser. The reviewed sections do not detail a choreographed maneuver with people aboard. Ask the provider to confirm the requested use before programming it.

We propose agreeing with production on who moves it, who gives the cue and who confirms it is ready in position. Mark the route, access to each lock and which cables connect after placement. Agree on procedure and checks for the delivered equipment.

Coordinate connections with event sound and document observations on the rolling-riser worksheet. The worksheet stays blank until the check is performed.

Camera Risers: separate the operator's position from camera support

The Camera Risers specifications from Staging Dimensions recommend separate risers for operator and camera. They present configurations with standard components and custom options. That recommendation helps prepare a request but does not guarantee vibration-free images on every floor.

Request a plan identifying each position's surfaces and supports. We propose checking whether they share any structure or whether the operator must touch camera support while working. Two decks in a photo do not establish how movement transfers.

The manufacturer's page offers edge and access accessories. Confirm which come with the requested assembly and how the operator reaches the position. The sheet is commercial: the delivered configuration still needs a component list and assembly instructions.

Before booking stages and platforms, coordinate with video on the vibration check (Spanish). Use the actual plan and equipment intended for the event.